# Friend got fired as job of substitute teacher for a "false Positive" drug test, any truth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978 "2025-10-15T01:01:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/61 "2025-10-20T15:59:03Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > And I presume poppy seeds would only test as heroin/morphine (opiods) I was in a medical trial in Scotland, where, after being under lock and key for 3 weeks, we got let out in Edinburgh… it was towards the end of the test. I spent a happy day at the castle, and in (possibly my least likely tourist destination,) the National Gallery. Really worth while On the way back, I bought a poppy-seed sandwich, ate it… and realised I fucked up. But all my drug tests came clear. The proportion of opiods in a normal poppy seed bread roll is nothing in comparison to the opiods from cutting an actual opium poppy seed pod to scrape out the sap to process into opium, and then heroin or morphine I did feel fucking stupid though, I risked £3000 payout for the trial, on a £1.50 sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/62 "2025-10-20T17:15:08Z")
As I understand from assorted urban legends, the risk with poppy seeds is not so much some roll with a few sprinkled or mixed in, but when there is a large amount of filling that is basically a jam full of poppy seeds. I.e. you have to consume more than the equivalent of a teaspoonful. Plus, the active amount depends on different poppy varieties. How true, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/63 "2025-10-20T17:45:10Z")
Once at church potluck, a woman from Romania brought in what was likely a popular dessert in Romania. It was a poppy seed cake–the interior was close to being nothing but poppy seeds (the “jam full of poppy seeds” idea). I feared that if anything would do the trick, that cake would. I had a few bites, and though I really like poppy seeds, that was too much of a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/64 "2025-10-20T18:09:49Z")
> [@rbroome](#): > > But I know when the lawyers brief our board and the superintendent speaks about personnel policies, the absolutist attitude is regretted and consistent. There have been multiple instances where employees harmed children and in retrospect there were “signs”. The school system (insurers) paid big settlements. Almost any documented instance of illegal activity is grounds for immediate dismissal. The Union helps when they can, but there is only so much they can do. When the lawyer recommends playing it safe, the board really has no choice. Ignoring such recommendation would endanger the insurance and the board can’t face the cost of a large settlement. Perhaps a large urban school system could roll the dice, but our system is a not that large (35000 students and $450M budget). Thanks for the follow-up. That’s horrifying, but I bet you’re right and that kind of thinking extends well beyond your experience of one district. > [@sunacres](#): > > I hope everyone on this board reads this and recognizes themselves, our tendency to claim broad basis of fact when our experience is narrow has gotten much worse over the years. I’m certainly guilty of this too. So my pinging @rbroome was both pot calling kettle black and, in hindsight, not done nearly politely enough. @rbroome: thank you for reacting to the good part of my intent, not the bad part of my ill-chosen tone. I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/65 "2025-10-20T18:46:47Z")
LSLGuy, I didn’t see anything negative about your post! It was fine.You pointed out something important and that gave me a chance to respond and learn. So it has been a good day! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/66 "2025-10-20T19:07:17Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > Once at church potluck, a woman from Romania brought in what was likely a popular dessert in Romania. It was a poppy seed cake–the interior was close to being nothing but poppy seeds (the “jam full of poppy seeds” idea). I feared that if anything would do the trick, that cake would. > > I had a few bites, and though I really like poppy seeds, that was too much of a good thing. [hijack] I have a recipe for a Poppy Seed Bar, where the middle layer is a poppy seed paste. Between the seeds and the sugar in the bar, yeah, I felt my heart racing! ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/67 "2025-10-20T22:46:13Z")
It’s a common Hungarian dessert filling as well. I’ve had it many times. I find it delicious, if made right. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/68 "2025-10-20T23:03:06Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Curious to see if he’s lying to me So has any new information emerged to bring clarity to your perception, since you posted the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/69 "2025-10-30T21:19:53Z")
Eh I basically haven’t talked to them since then. I immediately knew something was up when they were SUPER into showing me all the drug test results directly via having to watch him open 5 different PDF files in his emails, because ironically in my experience the more physical proof you have to show someone the more likely it is you actually did it. Then a week after I made this topic they asked me if I had $3000 to help them float by in October and I didn’t reply back. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978/70 "2025-10-31T07:01:19Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Then a week after I made this topic they asked me if I had $3000 to help them float by in October and I didn’t reply back. In this sort of situation, don’t consider it a loan. Consider it a happy surprise if it’s ever paid back. Then consider if you would give them that much as a gift regardless of circumstances. (I would not) I wonder how many other “friends” he’s hitting up for the same amount. Or did the others already say no? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friend-got-fired-as-job-of-substitute-teacher-for-a-false-positive-drug-test-any-truth/1023978.md?page=3)